Container



5. BIRKLAND Dec. 13, 1938.

CONTAINER- Filed Jan. 15, 1936 z .IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIII ICrllllfllfllllllllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIII:

INVENTOR 74 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 15, 1936, Serial No. 59,289

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a container or can which is provided with an exterior label and which is adapted to be opened with an accessory opening instrumentality which is intended to accompany the can and has particular reference to such an instrumentality which may be readily confined under the label and held against the can by the label to protect it against loss during shipment and handling.

The invention is intended for use with cans such, for example, as those adapted to be opened with a key which removes a tearing strip or other scored area from the can, or any kind of can requiring a small opening tool the key or tool being conveniently confined under the can label.

An object of the invention is the provision of a can which is adapted to be opened by a key or other opening instrumentality, the key being formed from stifi tin plate or the like material and shaped to conform to the side wall of the can while a label is used on the can side wall in the regular manner to confine the key between it and the can wall and which is removed or torn away to free the key for use in opening the can.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a can embodying the instant invention, and illustrating a key (in dotted lines) in position under the can label;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of one side and the upper end of the can shown in Fig. l, the view being taken substantially along the line 3-3 in that figure; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper part of the can with its label removed and showing the position of the key as applied to the can during the opening operation.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawing discloses a sealed can comprising a tubular body ll (Fig. 1) having top and bottom end closures I2, l3 secured thereto in any suitable manner, as for example, by seams l4.

At its upper end the body II is provided with a removable area or tearing strip [5 which is adapted to be removed for opening the can. This area is defined by a pair of spaced and parallel score lines I6, I! formed in the can body. One end of the tearing strip terminates in a tongue l8 which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable opening instrumentality or key IQ for removing the tearing strip in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 4.

The key It is adapted to accompany the can and for this purpose it is held in place against the can side wall by a, label 2| which may be the exterior decorative label of the can. The key is not secured or attached to the can in any manner but is either loosely confined under the label or it may be stuck to the label by a spot of glue or other adhesive. In either event it may be easily removed when needed. It is to this manner of holding the key on the can that the instant invention is particularly directed.

The key I9 is formed from stiff tin plate or the like material to give the necessary strength and rigidity when used in opening the can. It is also bent transversely of its length to provide a slight curvature which corresponds to the curvature of the exterior of the can body ll so that it will fit snugly against the can side wall and hence prevent undue bulging or distortion of the label.

One way of positioning the key l9 to accompany the can is to place the key against the side of the can as shown in Fig. 1 and then tightly wrap the label around the can and secure its ends with adhesive material in the usual manner. Another way of positioning the key is to deposit it on top of the label as when the latter is being fed from a stack of such labels in a labeling machine, the label carrying the key being applied to the can in the usual manner. Either way results in the key being positioned against the side of the can and confined under the label.

The key is thus held against loss until released by the ultimate consumer which release is readily effected by removal of the label or the tearing away of a small piece of the label in the region where the key is located. A notation on the top of the can as shown in Fig. 1 and reading Remove label--open with key or a similar legend is provided to notify the consumer of the location of the key.

The cans to which this key is applied are ordinarily provided with outstanding flanges at their tops and bottoms, a collection of such cans thus having their side walls spaced apart so that the keys are prevented from being rubbed so as to tear the labels or dislodge the keys.

It should be understood that the invention is not restricted to a can having a label which extends entirely around the can and is secured at its ends. It is equally well adapted to smaller labels in which the adhesive is applied for example around the edge of the label as in a circular or other shape label which is preferably large enough to confine the key within its borders.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

The combination of a container having a substantially cylindrical body wall and outwardly projecting seam portions at the opposite ends thereof, a label completely encircling and subtan tially covering said body wall and extending substantially from top to bottom of the same, and a key accompanying said container for opening the same and disposed beneath and confined by said label to protect the key against loss during shipment and handling, said key having a curved shape corresponding to the curved contour of the Wall of said container so it will lie closely thereagainst without undue bulging and distorting said label, said end seam portions adjacent opposite margins of said label forming abutments to insure against loss of said key from beneath the label.

STELLAN BIRKLAND. 

